The old eyes lit up and an almost-smile chased away the scowl. The remote was on a TV tray in front of him, and he shut off the tube. “How did you know I haven’t eaten?”
“It’s early yet, and you don’t keep the morning hours you used to. I’ll put the extra bagel in the fridge and get you a plate and something to drink. Water okay?”
The man nodded. “You’ll find a carton of orange juice on the top shelf of the fridge. Bring that, too.”
After arranging everything on the TV tray, Blake sat down on the nearby sofa while his grandfather ate. “That’s one heck of a bruise on your cheek, but you’re not as pale as you were when I took you to the doctor last week,” he said. “How’s the rib?”
“You ask me that every time you call. Same as I told you on the phone yesterday. I still hurt when I move around, but I’ll get better and the rib should stop bothering me in three to four weeks. What brings you here?”
“I haven’t seen you since I took you to the doctor almost a week ago and wanted to visit.”
“If you’d called ahead, I’d have said don’t bother and saved you the trip. You’re busy getting that new store ready to go, and this is a waste of your time. I’m not in the best mood.”
No kidding. “You’re welcome, Grandpop. Glad you appreciate the fact that I drove out of my way to bring you the lox and bagel.”
“Thanks,” came the grudging reply. “Why are you really here?”
Grouchy or not, he was too perceptive for his own good. “Since you asked, I want to know what’s going on with you and Caroline. You haven’t mentioned her.”
Grandpop’s expression soured even more. “You haven’t asked. It’s obvious you disapprove of our relationship.”
“I like Caroline,” Blake replied. He’d like her even better if she and his grandfather weren’t talking marriage. “I’m asking now.”
“She’s still mad at me.’
The other reason beside pain making him out of sorts. “After a whole week? That’s not good.”
“Think I don’t know that?”
“What did she say when you talked to her about it?”
“I haven’t.”
“Don’t you think it’s time you did?”
“I don’t know, all right? Now, let me eat in peace. And don’t sit here staring at me. The coffee maker’s set up. Why don’t you make some for both of us.”
Blake stood and started the brewing, then returned to the sofa. When most of the bagel had disappeared some minutes later, he cleared away the dishes and loaded them in the dishwasher. “Have you changed your mind about Caroline?” he asked as he filled two mugs.
“What kind of question is that? Quit talking and bring me that coffee.”
Half wishing he’d stayed away and stifling the urge to lose his cool, Blake set the drink on the tray and brought his to the sofa. “Do you still care about Caroline?”
“’Course I do!” Grandpop winced. “Hurts when I yell.”
“I’ll bet. Have you considered apologizing to her?”
“For wanting to surprise her with a generous wedding gift most women would happily accept? She ought to be apologizing to me.” He raised his chin in stubborn defiance, yet for all his bravado, he looked old and defeated.
As much as Blake wanted his grandfather and Caroline to at least back away from the marriage idea, he hated seeing himlike this. For a man who’d been married for decades, he didn’t seem to know much about women. “I’m no expert, but if I liked a woman as much as you like Caroline and wanted to right a wrong, I’d ease up on the stubbornness. A heartfelt apology can go a long way to heal the problems between you.”
“I’m not stubborn, and I didn’t do anything wrong,” Grandpop insisted, proving exactly how stubborn he was. “How was I to know she’d get mad about her present?”
“Hey, you found out she doesn’t like that kind of surprise. Also, she wants to pay her own way. In my book, that’s admirable. Maybe you should’ve listened to her.”
“Stop lecturing me, boy. What the hell am I to do?”
Blake had already shared his opinion, but he repeated it. “If I were in your shoes, I’d give in and apologize. But if you believe she’s in the wrong and you’re in the right, then I don’t see a way to fix this.”
